GREAT KILLS -- Earmarking a sizable sum of city money to revitalize some South Shore waterfront has some local residents boiling.

"We're in the middle of an economic recession and all we keep hearing about is how the city has no money, the state has no money and the federal government has no money," said Great Kills resident Vincent Matterson. "And so when I see almost $2 million set aside to clean up a beach, I ask myself, 'What the heck is going on here?' "

The rankled retiree was referring to last week's news that city Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) recently secured a $1.6 million allocation from the city's budget to help renovate and revitalize the 67-acre Crescent Beach portion of Great Kills.

The Parks Department-owned tract, which stretches along Tennyson Drive between Wiman and Armstrong avenues, is currently covered with derelict, graffiti-covered seawalls and mounds of rotting driftwood and garbage.

"There are better ways to invest that money right now," Matterson continued. "There are people who really need it to just survive, and we're worried about the beach? The priorities are out of whack here."

Posters on silive.com chimed in against the announcement with one person, identified as gklaw, saying that the decision "makes you wonder who lives there because to justify spending $1.6 million is disgusting and verges on criminal. We are in a severe financial crisis and we are going to beautify a slab of waterfront."

Ignizio, who envisions new playgrounds, plazas, jogging trails, benches and a pristine beach for the area, believes there is a misunderstanding about where the money is coming from.

"This is bonded money for the sole purpose of revitalizing areas such as this and for the construction of parks and schools," he said. "This money can't be used for paying the salaries of police or firemen, and it can't be used for expense items. That's not legally permissible."

The South Shore native also pointed out that this capital construction money would have been spent on projects in other boroughs if he hadn't made the push to continue the waterfront restoration that has already been done in other areas.

"In recent history, we've spent $15 million on improving Conference House Park (in Tottenville) and $10 million right next door in the acquisition of and revitalization of the Seaside Nature Park (in Great Kills)," Ignizio said. "We've made a commitment to the people that are on Staten Island to renovate the whole waterfront. I'm not going to apologize to anyone for bringing money back to my district to help revitalize it."

Residents who live near the beach in question gave the move their full support.

"Beachfront property is intangible," said Crescent Beach Civic Association president Carol Zirngibl. "We've been asking for decades to improve park land and open space around here. Why leave it sit there and not utilize it? It benefits everyone in the community."